Mamata may block govt’s NCTC initiative again

Despite Thursday’s terror attack in Hyderabad, chief minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to hang onto her reservations about the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC). West Bengal, she had said after the blasts, was not at risk.

The Centre has been pressing again for NCTC following Thursday’s serial blasts, which claimed 16 lives. The matter is expected to be discussed in her meeting with Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who is currently on a visit to Bengal.

Last year, the Centre had held detailed discussions on NCTC with all chief ministers.

Banerjee, along with Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, had opposed certain of its provisions, saying they would be against the country’s federal structure.

“Banerjee is concerned about terrorism. But law and order is a state subject and no agency should have overruling powers. It is against the federal structure,” said a senior Trinamool Congress leader, who is also a Lok Sabha MP.

“If the NCTC or any other agency doesn’t infringe upon the federal structure, we can think it over,” added a core committee member of Trinamool.

Sources in home ministry said dropping the particular provision of NCTC would make it weak and it would not serve its purpose.